Sunetric’s Leadership
Sunetric, based in Hawaii, has designed and installed 40 percent of all net-metered solar photovoltaic (PV) systems statewide, more than any other company. Sunetric is responsible for more than 100,000 solar panels and 30 megawatts (MW) of solar, installing several of the largest PV systems in Hawaii, including numerous large-scale installations with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.
At the forefront of North America’s renewable energy boom, Sunetric has expanded its operations and expertise to include the continental U.S., with offi-ces in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The company is developing solar farms totaling more than 30 MW.
With approximately 100 employees, the company manages every stage of the design, development and installation of PV systems nationwide. Sunetric holds electrical, construction and solar contractor’s licenses, while staffing engineering, installation, and customer service functions in-house. From senior management to rooftop installers, the company’s entire team is built on years of hands-on, field-tested experience.
Sean Mullen, Founder and President
Sunetric was founded by Sean and Beth-Ann Mullen in 2004. Sean Mullen now serves as president and partner of Sunetric Capital LLC, Sunetric’s affiliate financing company. Under his leadership, Sunetric has grown from a startup focused on residential photovoltaic and hot water installations into one of the country’s largest renewable energy firms.
Mullen studied mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and was introduced to the construction industry in 1997 when he took a position managing the engineering department for Gorgio Custom Pools in Pennsylvania. He entered the renewable energy field as a project manager for a local solar company after relocating to Oahu in 2001.
Mullen was recognized by Pacific Business News in the publication’s “Forty Under 40” class of 2010, a prestigious honor that acknowledges young business leaders in Hawaii. Mullen obtained his journeyman electrician license in 2004 and holds C-13 (electrical) and C-61 (solar energy systems) licenses.
Alex Tiller, Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of Sunetric, Alex Tiller defines and implements the company’s strategic goals and objectives. Prior to becoming CEO of Sunetric in 2010, Tiller was a founding partner at Sunetric Capital LLC, Sunetric’s affiliate financing company.
Tiller has served as a private business consultant, spearheading due diligence, research, and strategic planning for several large U.S. hedge funds, ultimately helping organize a private equity fund. He also founded and launched an animation and 3D visualization company in 2002, serving as CEO until he sold the company in 2007. He has also served as a product manager for Fidelity Investments, where he helped develop a cutting-edge online brokerage platform for broker-dealers and registered investment advisors.
Tiller graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and attended executive training at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in Chicago. He is also a member of Pacific Business News’ “Forty Under 40” class of 2011, which is a prestigious honor acknowledging young business leaders in Hawaii.
Chris Saunders, Chief Operating Officer
As chief operating officer for Sunetric, Chris Saunders oversees the company’s operational requirements and supports commercial and residential clients.
He has two decades in the design, construction and real estate industries, managing portfolios for firms including Microsoft, Parsons Engineering, SEMPRA Energy, Bank of Hawaii and Shell-Aramco Oil. He has also started consulting firms for corporate clients to support their real estate portfolios and operations.
Saunders graduated from the University of Cincinnati and received his master’s degree in international business from Webster University in Irvine, Calif. He is actively involved in the International Facility Management Association and Building Owners and Managers Association.
Tammy Berger, Human Resources Director
As the director of human resources for Sunetric, Berger manages the company’s human resources department, payroll operations, and training and safety policies.
Prior to joining Sunetric, Berger spent 15 years as director and vice president of human resources for casino resorts throughout the U.S., including: Cliff Castle Casinos and Del Sol Casinos in Arizona; Chinook Winds in Oregon; and Inn of the Mountain Gods in New Mexico. In her past positions, Berger directed recruitment, benefits, employee relations, payroll, compensation, training and development. She also worked as the director of human resources for COPE Community Services in Tucson.
Berger has served on the board for the Arizona and Nevada chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management and was the President for the Sierra Nevada chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. She received her bachelor’s degree in communication from Arizona State University and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute, an internationally recognized certification agency.
Justin Hardwick, Director of Commercial and Residential Construction
As the director of commercial and residential construction for Sunetric, Hardwick is responsible for overseeing all commercial and residential construction projects, including design and budgeting.
Hardwick’s experience includes founding Hardwick Drafting and Design in Florida, where he spent 5 years working with architectural drafting and web design. Hardwick also served as a civil design and technician/landscape design technician with Hole Montes, Inc., where he worked on large-scale civil engineering projects. His experience also includes working for Distinctive Drafting and Design, where he designed homes for planned communities.
Hardwick is a graduate of Westwood College of Technology with an associate’s degree in applied science, specializing in computer-aided design/architectural drafting, and he holds a certificate in computer-aided design programs.
Russ Winkelman, Director of Finance and Procurement
As director of finance and procurement for Sunetric, Russ Winkelman manages, analyzes and reports the company’s financial performance. Winkelman also manages supply-chain operations, including purchasing, inventory of materials and logistics.
Winkelman’s experience includes 12 years in supply-chain management. He served as the purchasing and logistics manager for Goodrich Aerospace and as a materials manager for the Motorola semiconductor division in Phoenix.
Winkelman graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in supply-chain management, and a master’s degree in business administration. He also holds the Certified Professional in Supply Management distinction from the Institute of Supply Management.
Matt Hilton, Controller
As Sunetric’s controller, Matt Hilton manages accounting operations, including budgeting, financial reporting and forecasting.
Hilton has more than a decade of accounting experience in the public sector, as well as with construction companies and nonprofits. Prior positions include working as a senior project accountant with PCL Construction and with Centex, a national developer of residential real estate. Hilton holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University, and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Aaron Kirk, Residential Sales Manager
Aaron Kirk manages Sunetric’s residential sales. Kirk previously served as an executive for Toreador, LLC, building Internet startup companies for acquisition. He also spent 15 years managing sales and operational teams in the printing and advertising industries.
Kirk holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. He is a certified trainer for ISO 9002 Quality Systems Implementation and a “train-the-trainer” facilitator for Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”
